First Letter

Definition

The "first letter" refers to a document written by Brutus, one of the Anti-Federalist writers, during the ratification debates in the late 1780s. In this letter, Brutus expressed his concerns about the power of the federal government and advocated for states' rights.

Related terms

Anti-Federalists: Refers to a group of individuals who opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution due to concerns over centralized power and lack of protection for individual liberties.

Federalists: Refers to a group of individuals who supported the ratification of the United States Constitution and advocated for a strong central government.

States' Rights: Refers to the belief that political power should primarily reside with individual states rather than being heavily concentrated in a central authority.